Cameron Brown, TUMF program manager at WRCOG, briefed the Executive Committee on the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee (TUMF) program, reporting collections, reimbursements and program trends since inception.

Since the program began in February 2003, WRCOG has collected nearly $1.3 billion in TUMF fees and reimbursed roughly $1.2 billion to agencies and projects, Brown said. Last fiscal year, the program collected about $76.3 million and reimbursed about $33.4 million; the difference has grown WRCOG’s program balance.

Brown explained collections are driven primarily by residential development (about 86% of last year’s collections) and that a change in the fee schedule on April 1 created a surge in applications and collections as developers submitted prior to the fee increase. He said developers typically pay TUMF at occupancy (often phase-by-phase for residential projects), and that credit agreements are used when a developer constructs a TUMF-eligible road and receives a credit against fees.

The TUMF program reimbursed roughly $33.4 million last year across WRCOG-managed projects and Regional Congestion Transportation Commission (RCTC) projects; Brown said the program currently allocates more than it reimburses in a given year. He noted the program’s TIP included more than $200 million allocated for the year but only about $30 million was spent, and that WRCOG is trying to encourage local agencies to accelerate project delivery. Reasons for slower spending include higher construction costs, the need for full funding packages to leverage outside sources, and other delays.

Brown said reimbursements in the first two months of fiscal year 2025–26 reached about $19 million. He highlighted an expected $11 million reimbursement for the McKinley grade separation in the vice chair’s jurisdiction and noted large reimbursements previously made for SR‑79 realignment and other major projects (I‑15 auxiliary lane, Third Street grade separation in Riverside).

Brown summarized program accomplishments: more than 150 projects with TUMF contributions, completed five-year TIP approvals for all zones, and over $300 million allocated over the next five years. He said WRCOG will present the status semiannually and will continue to work with agencies to release allocated funds for construction and ribbon-cutting events.

Committee members asked clarifying questions. A Temecula member asked when TUMF is collected; Brown responded that collections occur prior to occupancy. No formal action was taken; the committee received and filed the report.